Heritage Cases

In January 2022, Mr LX Mkhawanazi approached the Somkhele Mine stating that since they are aware that the mine is relocating people with the aim of mining in the area they need to report a community cemetery located in the same area. Currently, only 14 graves are visible but according to the family representative this location had a homestead which they used to live in and the cemetery dates back to almost 100 years old and contains the deceased of approximately 35 graves. The mine will assist the family with the identification and relocation of all graves within this community cemetery. The stakeholder engagement process involved one site visit to identify the location of the possible graves and to have the appropriate documents signed and collected. A GPR survey of the site is needed to try and determine the location of all the graves within the cemetery. The possible location of approximately thirty-five (35) graves is located in an area of 3071m² at the following location: • Reserve No 3 15822 at GPS Coordinates S -28.265651 E 32.156786, Mapheleni, KwaZulu Natal The following methodology will be followed during the GPR survey. The GPR survey aims to detect any anomalies consistent with the burials in the surrounding soil matrix. 1) The features will be documented and together with the surrounding area, will then be cleared of any vegetation that might obstruct the use of the GPR equipment. 2) The stone and soil mounds marking the features will then be levelled by hand. Continuous documentation will ensure that it can be reconstructed after the GPR survey. 3) A survey grid will be laid out over the area to be scanned. The area will be as large as possible, considering the adjacent construction activities which have severely encroached on the features. During the GPR survey, the location of the grave and the homestead will be investigated 4) Radargrams will be collected every 25cm on both the X and Y-axis of the grid. 5) The data will be processed to see if any anomalies are present. Additional to the vertical radargrams, the post-processing software will also produce horizontal slices every 5cm. Should the radargrams prove to be inconclusive, test excavations will be conducted. The following methodology will be followed during the test excavations. This method aims to remove enough of the topsoil until a clear display of the soil stratigraphy beneath is revealed. 1) As mentioned above, each feature will be documented and measured, the surface is then cleared of all debris and photographed. All observations regarding construction, materials and characteristics of the surface features are documented. 2) The topsoil is then carefully removed in 1mx1m test pits measured out on each feature of 30cm by hand. Observations will be made of the changing soil matrix and any patterns in stratigraphy indicating a grave pit. 3) Any archaeological features are noted and photographed. The presence of a burial pit can normally be ascertained by differences in the soil matrix. This would include a change in soil colour and/or texture due to prior disturbance if a pit or other alteration in the stratigraphy took place. 4) The feature will not be fully excavated and will be backfilled afterwards accordingly no matter the outcome. Should the features prove to be graves, the surface of the feature will be restored. Once the grave pits have been identified, the feature will be restored to previous conditions before the GPR survey and test excavations and a formal grave relocation process will commence. If the features do not contain any changes in the soil matrix it can be confirmed as being only surface features and mining in the area can continue after approval from AMAFA. Considering the above information, we are hereby requesting to conduct a GPR survey and test excavations in an area at the location of the community cemetery, to determine the presence of the graves.